The Moon Affects Her As It Does A Woman!

You can never be satisfied with the emotions that Hemingway creates. I remember mentioning to a friend that reading his books are like having an interaction with a very close friend of mine, I don’t even realize that am reading, it’s like him talking to me. Hemingway is my favorite and other writer who comes closer is JD Salinger.

Coming back to this book, in the surface (like sea) we get to read a simple plot which includes the following characters, but when you finish this book and  as the thoughts starts pouring in you get to see the Hidden treasures.  

The Characters

Santiago               The old fishermen whom, the community had taken every chances to put down. Even though he was a skilled fisherman in his prime, now with this age, he was considered to be lost the skills and unlucky. Unlucky because he had gone 84 days without a catch.

Manolin               The boy, who learned the skill from Santiago. This kid got a huge respect for Santiago and he believed in the old man. The boy also helps and provide for the old man.

Marlin                   is a kind of fish, with whom the old man spends several days at the sea to capture it.

The Story

Our old man goes into sea, a solo voyage, to prove his community of fishermen that he is still capable to make a big catch and his skills are as upto date as it was in his prime days. In this endeavor He succeeds or not?

Before I get into the treasure hidden beneath the sea, I must record the connection Hemingway constructs between the Old man and the boy, is something that will stay with me forever, it provide me a greater venue to present examples about some relationships. Same was the case with the character named Catherine from the book ‘A Farewell To Arms’, even though I read this book years back, I still remember how strong a character she was.

Now about the treasures we can find from this subtle story, let us name it under current themes are the followings.

Pain / Suffering

Nothing comes to us easily (most cases). For a fisherman’s worthwhile catch comes from painful physical and mental injuries. Enduring pain that is what it meant to be a fisherman. The old man’s hands are marred with scars, which show us a lifelong struggle with the opponents at the sea.  

Samsara

Hemingway, with his narrative audacity throws the thoughts that sea is cruel and beautiful.  It gives life and takes it away. Isn’t the case of our lives with ups and downs? The sharks devours marlins, the man catches fish.

Pride & Respect

The old man is pride of his skills and wants recognition for them (each one of us want it right?, so don’t just like it, do comment your thoughts too). On his solo voyage he wished that the boy was with him not only to dispel loneliness but to show the boy that what kind of a man he is and to witness the greatest catch of his life.

Inspirational

I felt it like one of the inspiring story that possibly we could have come across. When all other hopes are set comes the book to give you that boost to kick start and keep going, this one is truly an inspiring read.  It is the story of perseverance. Instead defying his streak of bad luck, the old man keeps going out to fish, trying even harder than the previous time. No matter what Santiago is not defeated nor is his spirit broken. Isn’t the shot we all needed to make believe, fall six times rise seven? Indeed it is, you will also connect once you read this story.

Like Jesus bearing his cross, our Old man will carry his mast to and from his skiff day in & out doing what a fisherman are meant to, to set sail and catch fish.

Happy reading!

Josh

Publishing Director